Hicks was standing by the window of the Command Centre, looking out over Corinth. He didn't sign up for this, he could already feel something stirring in the air, and knew that this night would be the most trying of his career. He had always known that positions of command came with a heavy price, and this was one of them. As much as it galled him, he had imposed a city-wide curfew, with all the military on patrol under strict instructions to arrest anyone out after lights out. It turned the dome into a prison.
"The patrols are covering the city." Vasquez told him wearily as she arrived, handing him a report. Much like Hicks, she didn't really like the idea of strong-arming the innocent citizens of Corinth, but with the events of the day, she knew as well as Hicks did that the city was poised on a powder keg, one that just needed a spark. "Everyone's on lockdown. No one's going to be outside other than our patrols."
"I think we both know that's optimistic Vasquez." He sighed, shaking his head. "So what's this?"
"It's from forensics." She told him as he opened the report. "It's some documents that were found in Mayor Truman's office."
"He was the mayor; there were a lot of documents in his office." Hicks replied.
"Not many like this though." She commented, pointing to the signature at the bottom of the page. Hicks screwed up his face and looked to her in confusion.
"Are you serious?" He asked. She just nodded her head. "I guess it looks like we need to do more digging."
"Let's just hope it isn't graves." Vasquez replied.
Meanwhile, over at an outpost, some Corinth Military personnel were standing by their station, more nervous and alert than normal. Generally the shift at venting station 85 were pretty quiet. It was only a venting station. The power generating the shields created a lot of gas, and the most efficient way of dispensing with it was burning. It served the dual purpose of dispensing with the gas, and also cutting off one of the ways into and out of Corinth. So far, only the Rangers had ever managed to use it as a way into and out of the city.
As they paced, the duty sergeant suddenly noticed an uncharacteristic flicker in the flames.
The other two soldiers looked as they noticed what he had, that the flames were behaving in a way they shouldn't. They started to arc, and before they knew what was happening, they formed a perfect archway, leaving the gateway open. A figure stepped through, entering the city.
"Hold it right there!" The Duty Sergeant yelled, levelling his blaster at the stranger.
"I don't think so." The stranger replied. He fired a warning shot into the air, but the stranger ignored him, starting to walk away into the city.
"Open fire!" The Sergeant called out, firing at the stranger. Faster than they could see though, the stranger pulled out a sword, deflecting their blasts.
"If you're quite finished." The stranger commented dryly. "I have somewhere to be."
The stranger stopped as the Duty Sergeant threw his rifle to the ground and pulled a knife. The sound of it being pulled from the sheath betrayed him. The stranger turned and glared at him through the visor of a helmet which reflected the limited light.
"Seriously?" The stranger questioned him sarcastically. The Sergeant took the hint and dropped the knife, at which the stranger left. He got on the radio to Headquarters.
"Sir, this is patrol on gate 85." The sergeant shouted down the radar. "Someone came into the city."
"What?" Hicks asked him. "How?"
"Um...your guess is as good as mine on that part." The Sergeant told him.
"Send over the video feed." Hicks instructed him. "The last thing I need is more loose cannons running around this town!"
All of the Rangers, Samurai and RPM alike were sitting in the Garage, listening to the sounds outside. With the exception of the official dispatch on Dr. K's computer, they had pretty much given up on any form of radio or television. They were all showing reports of the violence on the streets.
Despite the curfew, the Cartels were out in force. All of them had something to avenge, and so far, it looked like the one responsible for everything was Fresno Bob. It worried all of them that Scott had not been seen since he had left the McAllister garage.
Gem was holding Dr. K as she listened to the dispatch, waiting for any signs of a report on her Ranger Red. The suit had disappeared from the cabinet some time ago, so she knew that he had activated his powers wherever he was. All she could hope was that she didn't hear that he had taken his own vengeance.
"Hey, look at this." Emily commented, trying to bring everyone's attention to more pleasant topics. "I just ran my fingerprints through Dr. K's computer. Apparently I live here in Corinth!"
"Really?" Mia asked as she came over.
"Well, we already met another me." Kevin reminded them. "I guess we knew it was possible more of us made it."
"So, what are you doing?" Mike asked her. Emily just giggled.
"What else? I'm a farmer!" She told him, pointing to a Corinth citizen identity record. "It says I'm in the agricultural corp. I'm working on the reclamation project!"
"I guess that makes sense." Mike answered. "I mean, with your talents..."
She turned away from the screen, turning as pink as Mia's uniform as she saw something on the screen. Mike just looked to her.
"Emily, what is it?" He asked her.
"I think I know." Mia chuckled. "Check this out."
"Marital status...married?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, check out the name of the groom." Mia told him. Mike did so, and almost fell backwards.
"Me?" He asked, looking around to her. "We're married here?"
"I guess even across dimensions you two are meant for each other." Antonio replied. "Wait...there aren't that many fish left, let's see what I'm doing!"
He placed a finger in the scanner, checking his record.
"I'm..."
"Oh, that is too good!" Kevin sniggered as he reached for the computer. "We so have to make a printout."
"What?" Mike asked him.
"I'm a stripper!" Antonio protested.
"Really?" Emily giggled as she tried to imagine it. "You're..."
"I can't believe I'm a damn stripper!" Antonio said bad temperedly as he sat down, crossing his arms defiantly.
"Well, you do kind of have the body for it." Mike conceded. "OK, that sounded way straighter in my head!"
"Well, as entertaining as I'm sure you all find it looking your other selves up, perhaps we can get back to the problem at hand." Dr. K told them, turning her attention back to the scanner. "The reports are coming thick and fast, but the main concentration are on the streets surrounding the race track."
"That's Scorpion territory." Flynn interjected. "Who's fighting?"
"Everyone." Dr. K told them, turning to a live video feed, showing the battle well under way. The Scorpions were holed up in the race track, while the others were trying to storm the place.
"I never thought I'd see the day." Ziggy commented. "Spike Mike, Ronan, Carlyle and Eddie are fighting together?"
"They're all going after the Scorpions." Dillon added. "There's no way they can hold out forever."
"I doubt that's what we have to worry about." Ziggy replied, pointing to military vehicles rolling in, starting to lay down more fire. "I think what we have to worry about is how much of the city is going to be left!"
"Wait, is that...?" Summer called out, pointing to something. "That's the Eagle Flyer!"
"Somehow I don't think we need to think long to figure out what Scott wants." Jayden replied. "Come on guys."
"Wait, you're going?" Ziggy asked. "But, the military. Hicks warned us..."
"The military could use all the help they can get." Jayden replied. "Like you said, if something doesn't go their way soon, there may not be much of a city left to save."
"He's right." Summer agreed. "Come on guys, let's help out."
"RPM, Get in Gear!"
"Go Go Samurai!"
"Samurai Morpher, Gold Power!"
As they all morphed and prepared to leave, Dr. K just watched after them, her heart filled with dread.
"Please, bring him home." She whispered. "I couldn't bear to lose him."
Back at the Race Track, Benny ran into the office, finding Fresno Bob clutching a wound in his arm. He had a few shrapnel injuries, but nothing too severe. He could see that Bob was bleeding heavily.
"We need to get out of here." Benny told him, grabbing his old friend.
"I'm not running scared Benny!" He put down flatly. "I'm not being run out of here by..."
"This is no time for pride Bob!" He yelled at him. "You're bleeding to death! They're going to be in here any minute!"
Fresno Bob hated to feel vulnerable, helpless, but even he had to admit that the situation was beginning to look hopeless. The building was surrounded, and the explosions were becoming louder and more frequent. He knew it wouldn't be long until someone managed to get into the building.
"If we go now, we can turn ourselves in." He told Bob. "They'll get you to a hospital, and they'll keep you safe."
"You and I both know that I'll not be safe, not now that Truman's gone." Bob told him.
"You'll have a better chance than staying here." He rushed out as he grabbed a book case and pulled it back, revealing a door.
Bob followed him up a staircase, bursting out onto the roof, where a helicopter was waiting. As they arrived though, a blast hit the chopper, blowing it into smithereens. They both turned to see Scott advancing on them; his Nitro Blaster trained of Bob.
"Scott..."
Benny was pistol-whipped into unconsciousness as he approached Scott, trying to reason with him. He turned his attention back to Bob.
"Alright, I know you're angry..."
"Is that how I feel?" Scott asked him. "I used to get angry when I got a parking ticket. I used to get angry when I had a puncture and I hadn't replaced my spare! This is about as far from angry as I can get!"
"If you think this is going to make you feel better, go for it kid." Fresno Bob told him. "I've already told you. I had nothing to do with your old man's death."
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Scott yelled at him, firing a shot, taking out one of his legs, forcing him to his knees. "Just admit it and take what you've got coming to you!"
"He's telling the truth Scott." He heard a voice behind him say as Hicks and Vasquez appeared on the roof. "We know he didn't do it!"
"No, he wouldn't get his hands dirty." Scott sneered. "He wouldn't have the guts to take care of dad himself. He hired someone..."
"He didn't Scott, and we can prove it." Vasquez told him. "We found some documents in his office. He was signing up to become an informer."
"What?" Scott gasped as he heard this. Vasquez showed him the document. He furrowed his brows, realising it had indeed been signed by both Fresno Bob, and his father. He started to read through it.
"I wanted to retire, but I had no interest doing it at the bottom of the reservoir or the cells at the local prison." He informed him. "I was taking part in negotiations with your dad for a deal. I'd stay free on the condition that I helped the military bring down the other cartels."
"You were trying to...to bring down the cartels?" Scott asked him.
"I hadn't gotten as far as forwarding our proposal to Colonel Hicks." The Gang boss told him. "I wasn't lying when I said I respected your dad. We were going to bring an end to all the gangs in Corinth if this went ahead."
"We saw security footage of the meeting." Hicks confirmed. "Bob met with your dad to sign the deal the day before the hit."
"Sir, the cartels are on the run." A voice came over Hicks' radio. "Anyone we've not arrested, we're bound to pick up soon. We have a lot of casualties, but the Rangers showed up to help lock down the city."
"Alright, use them to get the area secured, and then get the injured to hospital." Hicks answered. "I want a report within the hour."
"I can give you one right now." A voice stated, breaking the silence. Bob fell to the ground as a sword impaled him. The dark figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself. "If you want to know who's responsible for Mayor Truman's death, you've found him."
"Jayden?" Hicks asked. This dimension's Jayden powered up a flame blast using Urumasa, and launched it forward, cutting off Hicks, Vasquez and Benny, leaving Scott trapped with him on the rooftop.
"I heard that you're the one to beat in this city." Jayden told him, preparing a guard with Urumasa. He was surrounded in flame, at which he started to shift shape, turning into a red, armoured Nighlock. "Let's see if your old man was the only loser in your family."
Scott converted his Nitro Blaster into sword mode and rushed him, his savage cry splitting the night air.